Use of gluclose-6-phosphate isomerase and antibodies thereto for the diagnosis and therapy of arthritis, and test of anti-arthritic compounds

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of antibodies against glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and like protein for diagnosis of arthritis and the use of said protein for treatment of arthritis. It is also aimed at a process for isolating monoclonal antibodies capable of transferring arthritis and antibodies thereof, as well as a method for determining the anti-arthritic potential of a composition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a national stage application of PCT/IB00/00600, filed Apr. 21, 2000, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/130,730, filed Apr. 22, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of antibodies against glucose-6-phosphate isomerase and like protein for diagnosis of arthritis and the use of said protein for treatment of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a frequent and incapacitating autoimmune disorder (Feldmann et al., 1996). It is a chronic, progressive joint disease, characterized by leukocyte invasion of the synovial lining and hyperplasia of the resident synoviocytes. The ensuing overproduction of cytokines and other soluble mediators results in cartilage destruction, bone erosion and anarchic remodelling of joint structures. The etiology and pathogenesis of RA remain controversial. It is not known whether disease is initiated by an unrestrained inflammatory reaction to a microbial antigen (Ag), an inappropriate autoimmune response to a self-constituent, or both. An important role for T cells (Panayi et al., 1992). B cells (Zvaifler, 1973), and other leukocytes such as dendritic cells, macrophages and neutrophils (Thomas and Lipsky. 1996) has been argued, and disputed. The lack of a consensus largely reflects two factors. RA is a heterogeneous syndrome, different patients exhibiting widely variant ages of onset, disease courses, genetic profiles and responses to therapeutic intervention. In addition, there has been a dearth of small animal models of RA, particularly those spontaneously succumbing to disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Recently, we generated a new transgenic mouse model of arthritis that spontaneously develops a disease with many of the characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in humans ((Kouskoff et al., 1996), U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,060). All KRN T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (tg) mice on the C57B1/6×NOD genetic background (hereafter abbreviated as K/B×N mice) develop a joint disorder, starting at three to four weeks of age, and rapidly evolving until the animal's mobility is severely compromised; as in patients, the disease is chronic, progressive, symmetrical and has a proximal to distal gradient of severity. The murine disease exhibits all of the major histological features of the human one: leukocyte invasion, synovitis, pannus formation, cartilage and bone destruction, anarchic remodelling. The mouse model, like patients, shows several immunological abnormalities, including B cell hyperactivity manifest as an increase in B cell numbers, hypergammaglobulinemia and autoantibody production.

The disease in K/B×N mice is initiated by cross-reactive recognition of NOD-derived A^(g7) molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complex by the KRN TCR. Thus, in K/B×N animals, a situation of systemic autoreactivity is generated, raising the issue of how joint-specific autoimmune disease develops in the presence of systemic autoreactivity. We have reported earlier that T lymphocytes are required for arthritis development, as their blockade of T lymphocytes prevents disease, although they appear dispensable at the later stages of disease. B lymphocytes are also critical (Kouskoff et al., 1996).

In the present invention, we find that B cells are required for spontaneous arthritis because they produce pathogenic immunoglobulin directed against a target we identify as glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9). We show that recombinant glucose-6-phosphate isomerase can be used in diagnostic tests of murine arthritis, and to adsorb pathogenic immunoglobulins.

Autoantibodies have been previously reported in situations of induced arthritis in animal models, when disease is induced by immunization with cartilage components, such as type II collagen. Antibodies against ubiquitously expressed proteins have not been previously found to be arthritogenic.

Autoantibodies are also found in serum from RA patients, and have some diagnostic value. Rheumatoid factor (RF; Ab against the Fc portion of IgG) has been considered a hallmark of this disease; however, it is absent from about 30% of RA patients and is present in individuals with other autoimmune diseases (Mannik, 1992; Rudolphi et al., 1997) or in situation of chronic immune stimulation. Abs against cartilage or epidermal components have also been detected in RA patients, directed against Type II collagen (cII) or filaggrin, for example, but, again, these generally show limited correlation with disease parameters (Rudolphi et al., 1997; Claque and Moore, 1984; Sebbag et al., 1995).

The present invention deals with antibodies against glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase like proteins (GPI like).

Said antibodies may be polyclonal or monoclonal and the technologies used for their preparation are known by the man skilled in the art.

GPI like proteins are proteins found in the serum, antibodies against whom have arthritogenic potential. Said GPI like are generally expressed in many tissues but always released in the serum, but are unable to induce complete immunological tolerance, and are thus the target of autoreactive T lymphocytes and/or autoantibodies.

GPI like proteins may also be proteins or polypeptides which contain at least one epitope able to interfere with anti-GPI or anti-GPI like antibodies, especially autoantibodies. Such proteins or polypeptides may be synthetic or recombinant and may encompass sequences of other proteins, especially said proteins or polypeptides when used for therapeutic application are not able to induce any pathology.

Examples of the present invention give the man skilled in the art detailed indications on how to identify GPI like proteins. In this regard, the present invention provides a test to isolate GPI like proteins and determine their arthritogenic property. One possible routine procedure is:

-   -   obtaining serum from arthritic mammals, such as the K/B×N         transgenic mice,     -   preparing different IgG fractions of said serum and testing them         for their ability to induce arthritis and eventually preparing         subfractions based on these fractions,     -   preparing an affinity chromatography column with IgG of said         fractions,     -   isolating and purifying GPI like proteins from proteins extracts         from organs of the same mammal by means of said column.

These isolated proteins, defined as GPI like proteins, can be further characterized by means of standard techniques such as sequencing. Technical details on the experiments performed that led to the identification of GPI are described in Matsumoto I. et al (1999) and Korganow A S. et al (1999), incorporated herein by reference.

Therefore, another aspect of the invention is directed to a process for isolating GPI like proteins comprising the steps consisting of

-   -   preparing different IgG fractions or subfractions from serum of         arthritic mammals, preferably from the K/B×N transgenic mice,     -   isolating GPI like proteins by affinity chromatography with IgG         of said fractions as matrix.

Said GPI like proteins are essentially enzymes, for example an enzyme involved in the hexose metabolism pathway, preferably GPI analogs.

The invention also concerns the use of the GPI or GPI like proteins and antibodies thereto obtainable by the process as depicted above for the treatment and diagnosis of arthritis.

Antibodies according the invention are different from the known arthritogenic antibodies described in the prior art which are directed against cartilage components such a Type II collagen. The antibodies of the present invention are mainly directed against proteins, which are expressed in many non-articular tissues, but released in the serum.

Another embodiment of the present invention deals with a process for diagnosis of arthritis which comprises detection of autoantibodies against GPI or GPI like proteins in the sample of plasma or serum of a patient.

The method of testing for the presence or amount of antibodies against GPI or GPI like proteins present in a sample comprises binding said proteins to the antibodies in the sample and detecting antibodies bound to said proteins.

The processes for detection of antibodies in the plasma or serum are well known in the art, for example ELISA or RIA tests may be used. It is possible to use a substrate coated with GPI or GPI like proteins, for example an assay plate, and then detect the presence of antibodies fixed on said GPI with appropriate labeled antibodies. Among the labels, those who are preferred are radioactive isotopes, compounds containing an isotope, enzymes, in particular enzymes susceptible to react with chromogenes, fluorigenes or luminescents (for example a peroxydase or an alcaline phosphatase), chromophores, chromogene compounds, fluorigenes ou luminescents, base analogues, and ligands such as biotin.

According to the present invention, GPI or GPI like proteins may be the natural protein itself, recombinant protein, synthetic protein or only the recombinant epitope of said proteins which are also encompassed by the terminology GPI like. So, the present invention also deals with a kit for carrying out the diagnosis of antibodies against GPI or GPI like proteins comprising a diagnostic agent consisting of a protein which is GPI or GPI like or an epitope thereof capable of interacting with an autoantibody of the plasma or the serum and a second antibody able to bind to said autoantibody, said second antibody being labelled for detection.

In another embodiment, the present invention concerns the use of GPI or GPI like proteins including portion of said GPI like which are able to interact with autoantibodies to inhibit or remove said autoantibodies for treatment or prevention of arthritis.

The invention also deals with the expression of GPI or GPI like proteins in vivo through the use of a vector comprising elements sufficient for expressing in vivo said GPI or GPI like proteins. Said vector may be from viral origin, may be plasmid or may be purely synthetic or naked DNA as described in VICAL technology. Expression of said proteins will provide GPI like proteins to adsorb arthritogenic antibodies (see the examples of said specification).

The efficacy of potential anti-arthritic compositions can be evaluated by determining the effect of the compositions on arthritis induced in normal mice by injection of serum from K/B×N mice, or of immunoglobulins derived therefrom, or of anti-GPI or anti-GPI like antibodies. Compositions thus evaluated include, but are not limited to, chemical compounds, biologicals such as antibodies, polypeptides, anti-inflammatory agents, hormones, tolerogens, which inhibit the binding of anti-GPI or anti-GPI like antibodies to their targets or the pathological consequences of this binding.

This can be done by: i) administering a known dose of arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins to a first non-arthritic mouse, said mouse also receiving the arthritogenic composition to be tested administered either before, together, or after the arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins; ii) detecting the time course of inflammation and joint destruction in said first mouse; and iii) comparing the time course of inflammation and joint destruction in said first mouse to the time course of inflamation and joint destruction in a second mouse of same genotype receiving the same arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins but which has not been exposed to said anti-arthritic composition.

Another possibility for step ii) is to detect the extent of inflammation, joint destruction and limb deformation in said first mouse; and for step iii) to compare the extent of inflammation, joint destruction and limb deformation in said first mouse to the extent of inflamation, joint destruction and limb deformation in a second mouse of same genotype receiving the same arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins but which has not been exposed to said anti-arthritic composition.

In this process, the arthritogenic immunoglobulins can be monoclonal antibodies or combinations thereof, especially antibodies described below.

It is also possible to test molecules which are able to modulate the production of GPI or GPI like proteins in order to treat arthritis, said molecule may be for example antibodies which are non pathogenic.

It is also possible to use surface coated with GPI or GPI like proteins for treatment of serum in an extracorporeal circuit for depleting the quantities of pathological antibodies.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for isolating monoclonal antibodies capable of transferring arthritis comprising the steps consisting of

-   a) preparing hybridomas from lymphocytes of arthritic mammals     splenocytes, preferably from K/B×N mice splenocytes, -   b) selecting said hybridomas in limited dilution conditions in HAT     medium, -   c) screening hybridomas producing antibodies directed against GPI or     GPI like proteins in an ELISA assay, -   d) expansion and cloning of the selected hybridomas at step c), -   e) testing said antibodies produced by selected hybridomas at     step d) in combination or alone for their ability to transfer     arthritis.

The testing of step e) can be achieved by i): administering a known dose of said antibodies to a normal mouse; ii) detecting the onset of inflammation joint destruction and limb deformation in said mouse.

It is to be understood that the above process steps can be achieved with well known techniques pertaining to the art and are not limited to any particular procedure.

So, the invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies obtainable by such a process and to hybridoma lines producing said antibodies. Among the antibodies depicted at example 5, antibodies 2.99 and 6.121 are preferred (see FIG. 9 below). These antibodies can be used to the same ends as the serum or anti-GPI immunoglobulins described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some additional characteristics and advantages of this invention will appear from the following examples which will be explain in reference to the figures wherein

FIG. 1. Serum from K/B×N mice can transfer arthritis.

-   A: Paws of normal mice injected 72 h previously with 150 μl of serum     from an arthritic K/B×N mouse, or from a control (ctl) non-arthritic     littermate. Note the swelling and redness in the mouse injected with     arthritic serum. Arthritis can be objectivated by measurement of     ankle thickness or clinical index assessement (right panels); the     clinical score is defined as: 0, normal; 1, doubt; 2, two paws     affected; 3, three paws affected; 4, all limbs affected. -   B: Disease induced by serum transfer is present in all recipients,     whether transgenic or not, but is more intense in recipients which     possess autoreactive T cells but cannot develop arthritis for lack     of B cells (K/B×N-μM^(o/o)). -   C: Wane of arthritis, read out as clinical index, after a short     course of K/B×N serum administration (open dots), but persistence     after repeated injection (black dots). -   D: Arthritogenic activity of the serum IgG fraction. Left panel:     RAG^(o/o) mice were injected with similar amounts (relative to     starting volumes) of serum from arthritic K/B×N mice (stars), the     flow-through (crosses) or the fraction eluted from a protein-G     column (closed circles). Right panel: twice the amount of IgG from     non-TCR tg littermates was incapable of inducing arthritis.

FIG. 2. Serum from K/B×N mice can transfer arthritis.

-   Knee sections from a typical K/B×N mouse (left) or a normal mouse 10     days after two injections of 2001 μl serum from an arthritic K/B×N     animal (right). Note in both cases the thickened synovial lining,     the massive underlying inflammatory infiltration, which extends over     the cartilage and begins its destruction, and the presence of     polymorphonuclear cells in the articular cavity. Hematoxylin and     eosin (H+ E) staining. 10× objective.

FIG. 3. A 60 kD protein is the major target of K/B×N autoantibodies.

Total protein extracts (NP-40 extraction) from ankle (A), spleen (S) or kidney (K) were run on SDS-PAGE, transferred by electroblotting, and probed with serum from a K/B×N arthritic mouse or a control littermate. The position of the prominent 60 kD band is indicated

FIG. 4. The 60 kD protein target of K/B×N serum is glucose-6-phosphate isomerase.

-   The 60 kD protein from kidney extracts was immunopurified on     immunadsorbents made with K/B×N immunoglobulins. After digestion     with trypsin, peptides were purified by HPLC, and several sequenced     by automated Edman degredation. The three peptide sequences obtained     belong to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, and are underlined. Further     confirming this identification, the molecular weight of a fourth     peptide was determined by mass spectrometry, and concides perfectly     with the mass of a tryptic fragment of GPI (wavy underline).

FIG. 5. Arthritic serum binds recombinant GPI.

-   A western blot was performed as in FIG. 3, except that the protein     loaded was recombinant GPI produced in E. Coli (as a fusion protein     with GST). The blots were probed with serum from an arthritic K/B×N     or a control mouse.

FIG. 6. ELISA assay detects anti-GPI antibodies in sera from arthritic mice, but not in controls.

-   In this enzyme-linked immunoassay, recombinant GPI, produced as     above, was used to coat wells of ELISA plates. These were used to     test for anti-GPI IgG in sera from arthritic or control mice. The     values shown here were obtained with serum dilutions of 1/16 000,     but positive signals could still be obtyained with dilutions as     great as 1/1,000,000. The only negative arthritic mouse in the assay     was an animal that had become arthritic on the very day the serum     was taken.

FIG. 7. Serum from K/B×N mice can transfer arthritis.

-   A: Recombinant GPI, or control recombinant protein—GST alone—,     produced as above, was bound to a solid support, and used as an     immunoadsorbent to remove anti-GPI antibodies from K/B×N serum. All     the anti-GPI IgG was in the bound fraction, as expected. The ability     to transfer arthritis was only found in the bound fraction, and     eliminated from the fraction which flowed through the column. -   B: A representative experiment, in which normal mice were injected     with various fractions from the purification scheme shown in A.     Arthritis was evaluated and scored as above.

FIG. 8. Transfert of K/B×Nserum can test therapeutic potential of a monoclonal antibody treatment.

-   Naïve 4 week old mice of the C57B1/6 strain were injected with 200     μl of pooled serum from K/B×N mice on days 0 and 3. The mice were     also injected with test antibody BB5.1, which blocks the C5     complement factor, at days −2, −1, +1, +5, and +8, or with vehicle     only. The onset of arthritis was followed by measuring ankles     thickness in the following days. Mice treated with monoclonal     antibody were protected from arthritis, while those injected with     vehicle only presented disease.

FIG. 9. Monoclonal anti-GPI antibodies induce arthritis when injected together in naïve mice.

-   Naîve 4 week old mice of the Balb/c strain were injected with 1 mg     of purified IgG from anti-GPI mAbs 6.121 and 2.99 dissolved in     Phosphate-buffered Saline, or 1 mg of each, on days 0 and 3, the     onset of arthritis was followed by measuring ankle thickness in the     following days. Mice treated with the two anti-GPI monoclonal     antibodies in combination showed arthritis, but not those injected     with either mAb alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EXAMPLE 1

Immunoglobulins Mediate KRN Arthritis

We have previously shown ((Kouskoff et al., 1996), U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,060) that mice carrying all the genetic elements needed for the appearance of KRN arthritis, but deficient in B lymphocytes, are free of disease. To explore the possibility that arthritis development in the KRN model depends critically on a particular B cell product, we tried to provoke disease in non-arthritic mice by transfer of serum from K/B×N mice. Severe joint swelling appeared in the animals injected with serum from arthritic K/B×N donors, but not in those receiving serum from non-arthritic B×N controls (FIG. 1A). Disease could be induced with as little as 100 μl of K/B×N serum, and showed up reproducibly. It was provoked very rapidly, measured by either clinical score or ankle thickness, evident already within two days after serum injection. Arthritis could be obtained upon injecting sera from arthritic donors into normal mice, lymphocyte-deficient RAG^(o)/^(o) hosts, or B cell deficient K/B×N mice (K/B×N mice-μMT^(o/o)) (FIG. 1B). These results show that serum components from K/B×N mice are sufficient to confer arthritis, although the more aggressive disease seen with the latter animals indicates that K/B×N T cells probably play an accessory enhancing role in the effector phase.

The arthritis provoked by serum transfer presents all of the histological features of the disease in regular K/B×N mice, including invasion of inflammatory cells, hyperplasia of synoviocytes, pannus formation, and cartilage destruction (FIGS. 2A and B).

The arthritis induced by serum injection is transient. In mice that had received a single pair of injections, joint inflammation began to subside after about 15 days 110 (FIG. 1C); after 30 days, some of the joints appeared quite normal, even in the animals that had initially been fully arthritic. Disease transience could be overcome by repeated injections of serum from arthritic mice (FIG. 1C). That this was true even for RAG^(o/o) recipients suggests that instability of the serum compound is the explanation for the transient nature of the disease.

The arthritogenic serum factor is a B cell-produced immunoglobulin (Ig): after fractionation of serum from K/B×N mice into IgG and non-IgG components, only the IgG fraction is capable of provoking arthritis in RAG^(o/o) hosts; its potency is similar to that of whole serum (relative to the starting volume) (FIG. 1D), as are the histological features of the disease it induced (data not shown).

EXAMPLE 2

Molecular Target of the Pathogenic Immunoglobulins

Thus, an Ig produced by B lymphocytes is key to arthritis development in K/B×N mice. We then attempted to define their molecular targets. At the onset, one could have imagined that these could be antibodies directed against specific components of the joint, somehow generated by the interaction of transgenic T cells reactive against the Ag7 molecule on the surface of B cells: this could prevent the normal tolerance of B cells towards self-components, or induce polyclonal B cell stimulation and the synthesis of Ig reactive against self (perhaps polymeric) components. We addressed this question:

-   1) By immunohistochemical analysis of RAGo/o mice after transfer of     Ig from K/B×N mice. These analyses showed deposition of transferred     Ig not only in the synovial tissue of the joint, but also in lining     membranes of many other organs (spleen, kidney, liver, muscle; data     not shown). -   2) By Western blot analysis: Whole protein extracts were prepared     from the ankle joint and from several other organs of RAG^(o/o) mice     (to avoid the presence of Ig in the extract), electrophoresed on     denaturing poyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE), blotted, and probed with     serum from K/B×N mice. Ig binding was revealed by probing with     HRP-conjugated anti-mouse IgG. As can be seen on FIG. 3, a single     dominant protein band could be detected on these blots, at     approximately 60 kD MW. This band was seen repeatedly when sera from     a number of K/B×N arthritic mice were used, but not with sera from     control non arthritic littermates. Other proteins were detected with     some of the sera, but inconsistently and they were always weaker     than the 60 kD band.

We then attempted to identify this 60 kD protein. To this end. IgG from a large pool of K/B×N sera was purified by affinity chromatography on ProteinG columns. This purified Ig (1,5 mg) was covalently bound to CNBr-activated Sepharose. This matrix was then used as an immunoadsorbant on which were loaded 50 mg of NP-40 extract from kidney of RAG^(o/o) mice. The column was washed extensively, and bound proteins eluted at acid pH. They were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie staining. As expected from the results described above, a dominant band of 60 kD was seen. This band was excised, the protein digested in the gel slice by Trypsin, as described in (Rosenfeld et al., 1992), and the resulting peptides resolved by reverse-phase HPLC. Several peptides were identified. Three of them were then sequenced by automated Edman degradation on an Applied Biosystems 470A instrument. The sequences were compared to public databases, using the BLAST program on the Swissprot database. All three were found to belong to the protein glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (aka phosphohexose-isomerase; EC 5.3.1.9; Swissprot database number P₀₆₇₄₅; sequence accession # 1230741; hereafter abbreviated as GPI). Their positions are shown in FIG. 4. Another of the peptides obtained was also found to belong to GPI, on the basis of mass spectrometry analysis which fit exactly with the molecular weight predicted from the sequence (FIG. 4).

The molecular weight of GPI (62 636 kD) is very concordant with the MW of the target of K/B×N serum predicted from the Western blots, within the precision of MW estimation by PAGE.

GPI is an essential enzyme of the glycolytic pathway. It is an enzyme expressed in essentially all tissues, whether normal or tumoral, with some quantative variations, from the earliest stages of embryogenesis to late in life of the animals (West et al., 1990; Hallbook et al., 1989; Warner et al., 1985). It is normally a cytoplasmic enzyme, but soluble GPI can be found in serum; it is found elevated in tumor patients (various organs), but not in a manner that make it a reliable marker (see for example (Neri et al., 1983; Schwemmer et al., 1985; Paulick et al., 1987; Gomm et al., 1988; Gurney et al., 1986)). GPI has also been purified independently as “Neuroleukin”. “Maturation factor”, or “Autocrine Motility Factor”, secreted factors of often limited potency as a neurotrophic agent, or as agents promoting cell migration or tumor cell differentiation (Gurney et al., 1986; Faik et al., 1988; Niinaka et al., 1998; Xu et al., 1996). Genetic deficiencies in GPI result in hemolytic anemia syndromes (see for example (Kanno et al., 1996; Baronciani et al., 1996)).

To confirm that GPI is the protein recognized by the Igs present in K/B×N serum, we produced recombinant GPI in E. Coli. The coding sequence of mouse GPI was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction, and the product cloned in the plasmid pGEx-4T-3 (Pharmacia). The recombinant protein, a fusion product with Glutathione-S-transferase, was purified by affinity chromatography on Glutathione-Sepharose 4B column. The product was characterized on SDS-PAGE, and showed the expected size (data not shown) The gel was blotted, and strips were probed with sera from K/B×N or non-transgenic littermate controls. As can be seen in FIG. 5, all K/B×N sera reacted strongly, while control sera were negative, confirming that the GPI protein is the molecular target of anti-60 kD antibodies in K/B×N serum.

The recombinant protein was also used in Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assays (ELISA) to detect reactivity to GPI in sera of K/B×N mice of different ages. As previously described (Kouskoff et al., 1996), KRN arthritis appears at 28–32 days of age. As shown in FIG. 6, the assay detected significant reactivity above background, up to dilutions of 1/20 000, in sera from K/B×N mice. No such reactivity was seen in control littermates. The assay can thus serve as a good diagnostic test of arthritis in these mice.

EXAMPLE 3

Anti-GPI Antibodies are the Pathogenic Immunoglobulins

Do anti-GPI antibodies constitute all the pathogenic specificities of K/B×N serum, and can their removal eliminate the pathogenic potential of the serum. To address this question, we coupled 5 mg of recombinant GPI or of control GST protein, prepared as above, to CNBr-conjugated Sepharose. Pooled sera from K/B×N mice were applied sequentially to these columns. The bound proteins were eluted at acid pH, and tested by transfer into naive mice, along with an aliquot of the starting material and of flow-through fractions. As shown in FIG. 7, all arthritogenic activity was found in the fraction bound to the GPI-conjugated column, and none in the flow-through, even though the latter contained the majority of the immunoglobulin. These results demonstrate that anti-GPI antibodies are indeed the pathogenic Ig in serum from arthritic K/B×N mice, and that it can be adsorbed with recombinant GPI protein.

From these data, we conclude that anti-GPI antibodies produced in the transgenic mice provoke arthritis. We have found (unpublished data) that T cells expressing the KRN receptor are specifically stimulated by antigen-presenting-cells exposed to GPI antigen. These T cells in turn stimulate B cells producing anti-GPI immunoglobulin, which internalize GPI effectively and thus receive help from T cells more readily than non-specific B cells (Lanzavecchia, 1985). It is thus proposed that self-reactive T cells against GPI or related circulating proteins, present in limited amounts in the circulation and thus unable to induce a paralyzing tolerance of the immune system, could induce similar arthritogenic antibodies in human conditions such as RA.

EXAMPLE 4

The transfer of serum from arthritic K/B×N offers a model wherein potential anti-arthritic formulations can be tested by administration concomitant with the arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins.

As a proof of principle we tested the ability of anti-C5 monoclonal antibody to interfere with arthritogenesis on the K/B×N model. We chose this reagent because of prior evidence implicating complement components, and in particular C5, in the generation of joint lesions in other mouse models of arthritis and in human RA patients (Watson et al, 1987; Wang et al, 1995). Mice were injected with arthritogenic serum from K/B×N mice, and at the same time with the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody BB5.1, known to block C5 activity (Frei et al, 1987). As can be seen from FIG. 8, mice injected with the anti-C5 monoclonal were protected from disease.

EXAMPLE 5

If immunoglobulins present in the serum of K/B×N mice are able to transfer arthritis, it should be possible to isolate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) also able to transfer disease to naïve recipients. Splenocytes from 30 and 50 days old K/B×N mice were fused according to standard protocols for hybridoma derivation (de St Groth and Scheidegger, 1980), and hybridomas selected in HAT medium in limiting dilution conditions in 96-well plates. Hybrids were screened for production of immunoglobulins reactive to GPI by testing culture supernatants in an ELISA assay with recombinant GPI as a bound antigen and anti-mouse IgG as a developing reagent. Several positive wells were selected for expansion, cloning by limiting dilution and testing for stability of the hybridoma lines. Eleven stable hybridoma lines producing anti-GPI IgG were thus obtained (see Table 1 below).

TABLE 1 Anti-GPI monoclonal antibodies Monoclonal Antibody Recognized Peptide Isotype 1.8 277–312 IgG1, κ 1.7  1–36 IgG1 1.11 47–82 IgG1 1.24 24–59 IgG1, κ 2.99 conf. IgG1, κ 2.56 300–335 IgG2b, κ 2.67 277–312 IgG2b, κ 6.149 277–312 IgG1, κ 6.121 277–312 IgG1, κ 6.65 conf. IgG1, λ 6.96 277–312 IgG1, κ

The ability of these monoclonals to transfer disease was tested by Protein-G purification of mg amounts of the IgG produced by these hybridomas, and intraveneous injection into na ve Balb/c recipients. As can be seen on FIG. 9, the coupled injection of anti-GPI immunoglobulin from the 6.121 and 2.99 hybridoma cells provoked arthritis in the recipients, but none of the antibodies were able to induce disease when injected alone. Among these antibodies, some works, such as the 2.99 and 6.121 antibodies, while others don't. However, step e) of the process for isolating antibodies capable of transferring arthritis according to the invention allows to select the working ones.

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1. A method for determining the anti-arthritic potential of a composition by administering said composition to an arthritic animal and evaluating the effect on the arthritic process, wherein the arthritic animal is compared to an arthritic control animal, wherein the arthritic control animal receives no potential anti-arthritic composition and wherein the arthritis of the arthritic animal and the arthritic control animal has been induced by injection of antibodies against GPI proteins or of serum from arthritic K/B×N transgenic mice or fractions thereof.
 2. Process according to claim 1 which comprises i) administering a known dose of arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins to a first non-arthritic mouse, said mouse also receiving the arthritogenic composition to be tested, administered either before, together, or after the arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins; ii) detecting the time course of inflammation and joint destruction in said first mouse; and iii) comparing the time course of inflammation and joint destruction in said first mouse to the time course of inflamation and joint destruction in a second mouse of same genotype receiving the same arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins but which has not been exposed to said anti-arthritic composition.
 3. Process according to claim 1 which comprises i) administering a known dose of arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins to a first non-arthritic mouse, said mouse also receiving the arthritogenic composition to be tested, administered either before, together, or after the arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins; ii) detecting the extent of inflammation, joint destruction and limb deformation in said first mouse; and iii) comparing the extent of inflammation, joint destruction and limb deformation in said first mouse to the extent of inflamation, joint destruction and limb deformation in a second mouse of same genotype receiving the same arthritogenic serum or immunoglobulins but which has not been exposed to said anti-arthritic composition.
 4. Process according to claim 2 wherein the immunoglobulins are monoclonal antibodies or combinations thereof. 